Nelson Evening Mail THURSDAY, OCTOBER 12, 1922 THE MUDAHIA AGREEMENT

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LVI, 12 October 1922, Page 4

Nelson Evening Mail THURSDAY, OCTOBER 12, 1922 THE MUDAHIA AGREEMENT

THE signing of the Mudaaia agreement is a big step forward in uio task of averting war in the Near East. It seems to be abundantly' clear now that to Great Britain belongs the credit for having brought the Angora Government to a state of reasonableness, at any rate for tlie time being. By her prompt action in barring the passage of the Turkish army across the Straits, she not only acted in defence of the Sevres Treaty, of widely with the oilier Allies she is a signatory* but time was given for the Turks to ponder upon the rash step that they were about to fake. By discretion the Turks will be able to gain infinitely more than by force of arms. If the Kemalists really intended to'light and were in a position to light, they would have struck before Great Britain had time (o reinforce her (loops in the strategical positions dominating the .nirdanclles. It is interesting to recall the Note issued by Britain, Franco and Italy cm 23rd September, which requested the Natiqnal Assembly at Angora, to inform them if it was ready to send representatives with full powers to a conference at Venice at which Great Britain, Franco, Italy, Japan, Turkey, Roumania, Jugo-Slavia, and Greece would be represented, to negotiate n final peace be-

tween Turkey, Greece and the Allied I Powers. One of to-day's cables hints that America will be. invited also. Rental Pasha agreed to the conference and the Mudnnia Conference was held to discuss

the immediate situation and pave the, the .Peace Conference. The Allied Note staled that (ho three Powers (Britain, France and Italy), “take the ojipni'tunity of declaring that they view will) favour Turkey's desire (o recover Thrace as far as the river Ahuitza and Adrianoplo on condition that the Angora Government does not send its army during or before the peace negotiations into liie proclaimed neutral zones. Ihe three Governments will bo willing to support at the Conference the attribution of these, frontiers to Turkey, it being understood, however, that steps will be taken to come to an agreement, to safeguard the interests of Turkey and her neighbours, to demilitarise certain zones to lie fixed with a view to making peace, to obtain liie peaceful icestablishment of Turkish authority, ami, .finally, to insure the freedom of the Dardanelles, the Sea of Marmora, and the. Bosphorus, as well as a retrospection ot the racial and religious minorities, liie three Government? are willing to support Turkey’s admission to the League of Nations.' They agree in reaffirming the assurances given in March to withdraw troops from Constantinople as soon as Hie Peace Treaty enters into force. They will use their influence lo procure before the conference the retirement of ihe Greek forces to a lino to bo fixed by the Allied generals in agreement with the Greek and Turkish military authorities. The Angora Government will undertake in return not to send troops into the neutral zones and not to cross the Straits or the Sea. of Marmora. A meeting might immediately take place between Mnstapha Kcmal Pasha and the Allied generals to fix the above mentioned line. The, three Governments arc convinced that their appeal will be listened to, and they will be able to collaborate with Turkey ami the Allies to re-establish peace for which the whole civilised world is longing, that Great Britain requires is a guarantee regarding the freedom of the Straits. And to secure this freedom the Allies must in some way or other, have control over the commanding positions.